Just two weeks after I was born in October 1956, Dan Webb and Eric Pearce were the first two men to go on air for the opening night of new Melbourne television station, HSV-7.

That was Sunday, November 4, 1956. ‘Danny’ Webb was a favourite in our household. He had been the ‘Daybreak Dan’ breakfast announcer at radio station 3DB, was compere of Video Village, was a utility man at the TV station including hosting It’s Academic, then became a journalist, later hosting the Day By Day current affairs program.

Little did I know that in my adult years we would become firm friends, and he would be a keen supporter of my Melbourne Observer newspaper, as a frequent editorial contributor. Together, we were members of the twice-yearly Survivors Club of TV, radio and recording industry veterans. He was a lovely man.

When I became producer of the nightly Mansfield’s Melbourne TV program on Optus Vision (and later Channel 31), I made sure Dan Webb was our first guest. Dan confessed that his early visibility as a TV presenter almost cost him his family. “They seem to know more about my kiddies than I do.” He was devoted to wife Kate, and his children.

Dan had been a teenage farm labourer at Bexholl-on-Side, England; a flying officer in the RAF after joining as a gunner; dabbled for two years as a carpenter-joiner; and performed in shows. He took a writing course with The Times of London. He secured a radio station job in Darwin, and then transferred to Melbourne.

Under the guidance of Sir Keith Murdoch, The Herald & Weekly Times boss, Dan became involved with the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. He continued that association for decades.

• As a university student, I was briefly involved in some promotional work for HSV-7, including an hilarious interview between Mike Willesee and Spike Milligan (The Goons Show). In later years, I had some involvements with HSV-7’s telecasts with the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

I was Producer of the Mansfield’s Melbourne TV programs, and other associated shows, from 1997 to 2002.